02 February 2016

UK Labour chief seeks deal with Argentina over Las Malvinas

Britain’s Labour Party leader has expressed support for a power-sharing deal with Argentina over the disputed Malvinas Islands, aka the Falklands, reports say.

Jeremy Corbyn has told Argentinian diplomats he wants a Northern Ireland-style power-sharing deal for the South Atlantic islands.

Argentina’s outgoing ambassador to London, Alicia Castro, said the Labour leader “shares our concerns” and “he is one of ours,” according to the Guardian.

In an interview published on the Argentinian embassy’s website, Castro said Corbyn had visited the Argentinian embassy in London and was “friendly and humorous.”

“He is saying that dialogue [is] possible and that attitudes are beginning to change, that what was achieved in Northern Ireland can be achieved also here,” she said.

“His decisive leadership can guide the British public opinion to promote dialogue between the governments of the United Kingdom and Argentina.”

The Labour leader drew criticism last week by saying in a television interview that he wanted discussions on “some reasonable accommodation” with Argentina.

While saying the islanders should have an “enormous say” in any discussions on their future, he stopped short of saying they should have a veto over any new arrangements.

Located about 500 kilometers (about 300 miles) off Argentina’s coast and home to about 3,000 inhabitants, the disputed islands have been declared part of the British Overseas Territories since Britain established its colonial rule on the territories in 1833.

Argentina and Britain fought a 74-day war in 1982 over the islands, which ended with the British side claiming victory over the Argentinians.

The United Nations (UN) Special Committee on Decolonization considers the islands as a colony, which is waiting to be decolonized.